To Become A Bride. Carole Mortimer

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СКАЧАТЬ this evening, then she could make it tomorrow evening instead.

      Unless she just didn’t like the delay of twenty-four hours…?

      Which was probably more than likely the case, Jonas decided. Danie Summer had come over to him as an ‘instant’ person. If something needed doing, then deal with it now, not later. Which probably accounted for the way she had followed him on her motorbike!

      ‘Well?’ he prompted impatiently; his own time, as he had told her earlier, was no less valuable than was her own, or her father’s, and quite frankly he had used up enough of it on this family for one day. Besides, falling into bed—alone—beckoned.

      Those green eyes flashed her anger once more before it was quickly brought under control. Danie even went so far as to force a smile to those poutingly inviting lips. ‘Tomorrow evening will be fine,’ she answered in measured tones. ‘In fact, it will probably be better,’ she continued as she warmed to this change of plan—her plan! ‘I’m sure I’ll have no problem booking us a table at my favourite Italian restaurant on a Sunday evening.’

      And Jonas was sure, if Danie decided to eat at her favourite Italian restaurant on New Year’s Eve without a booking—one of the busiest evenings of the year—that a table would be found for her somehow! There was about her an assured arrogance that would ensure not too many people said that word no to her…

      So it came as no surprise to him either that Danie would be the one to book the restaurant. ‘What time do you intend picking me up?’ he enquired tauntingly, laughing softly as she looked momentarily nonplussed at the suggestion. ‘I usually call and collect the people I’ve invited out to dinner,’ he informed her.

      Danie looked irritated at the reminder that she had been the one to do the inviting. ‘Would seven-thirty suit you?’ she said tautly.

      ‘That depends on what time you book the table for.’

      Her mouth tightened at his deliberate awkwardness. ‘How about eight o’clock?’

      ‘Then seven-thirty will be fine,’ Jonas returned, enjoying her momentary discomfort. Momentary—because he was sure she wouldn’t remain disconcerted for long! ‘In fact,’ he went on softly, ‘I’ll look forward to it!’

      It was obvious from her expression that Danie didn’t share the sentiment.

      Jonas laughed to himself. He did not think Danie was the answer to the restlessness that had been plaguing him recently, but she had certainly brightened up what might otherwise have been a very arduous day. In fact, he was even starting to look forward to continuing another verbal fencing-match tomorrow evening!

      He glanced down at the plain gold watch on his wrist. ‘If you’ll excuse me, Danie,’ he told her briskly. ‘I have another patient to see before I call it a day.’

      Impatience once again flared in those revealing green eyes at his obvious dismissal, only to be dampened down again as she made an effort not to lose the fiery temper he had already glimpsed more than once today.

      ‘You’re certainly kept busy,’ she finally replied.

      ‘Unfortunately, I don’t very often get flown around in luxurious planes!’

      ‘Where exactly do you work?’ Danie asked casually.

      She would never make it in the diplomatic corps, Jonas concluded; she was as transparent as glass. ‘Here and there,’ he answered enigmatically, having to stop himself from laughing out loud this time at the angry frustration she wasn’t quick enough to hide.

      ‘Then I had better not keep you any longer,’ she said, bending to pick up her helmet and leather gloves from the carpeted floor where she had placed them earlier.

      ‘Haven’t you forgotten something?’ Jonas reminded her as she threw the car door open with her usual impatience.

      She turned back to him, looking puzzled. ‘I don’t think so…?’ She shook her head, red hair framing the loveliness of her face.

      So much perfect beauty, Jonas mused. What a pity her only reason for wanting to see him again was the hope of trying to get him to be less than discreet about his visit to the Summer estate today…! A wasted hope, he was afraid, but it would be interesting to see how she went about it…

      ‘You have no idea where I live,’ he told her, taking a pen and small notebook from the breast pocket of his jacket, quickly writing down his address before ripping the sheet from the pad and handing it to her. ‘I’ll be ready and waiting at seven-thirty tomorrow evening.’

      Danie shoved the piece of paper in the pocket of her leather jacket, obviously annoyed with herself at the oversight. ‘I’ll try to be on time,’ she snapped before getting out of the car and slamming the door shut behind her.

      Charles had barely had time to get back in behind the wheel of the Rolls Royce before the black motorbike, Danie bent grimly down over the engine, shot past them with a roar, then rapidly disappeared into the distance.

      Jonas relaxed back onto his seat, a smile playing about his lips. Danie Summer’s tongue was as sharp as a knife, and she had an arrogance that bordered on contempt. But she was also incredibly beautiful, and the most intriguing woman Jonas had met for a very long time. If ever!

      What a pity her only reason for wanting to see him again was the selfish one of wanting to know why he had been to see her father today.

      And what a pity—for Danie!—that she was going to be unsuccessful!

      CHAPTER THREE

      ‘DRESSED to kill’, she believed it was called. Danie studied her reflection in the mirror. The short green sequinned dress clung so lovingly to her body that she could wear only the minimum of clothing beneath it; she had dispensed with a bra altogether, and her panties were of the sheerest silk. Her hair was loose about her shoulders, like a rippling flame—red, with the merest hint of gold as it shimmered down her spine.

      She had applied a little more make-up than usual, too—in fact, she didn’t usually bother with it at all!—her lashes long and silky, her eyes outlined with black kohl, giving them a look of wide innocence, her cheekbones aglow with blusher, the deep red gloss on her lips a match for the colour of her hair.

      If Jonas Noble didn’t find her appearance attractive, then he simply wasn’t a normal flesh-and-blood man!

      She had been so irritated when he’d refused her invitation to dinner yesterday, even more so when he’d then suggested they meet over twenty-four hours later. She had wanted to know what was going on then, not the next day!

      But, in retrospect, the delay had been fortuitous. She’d had time to calm down, to collect her thoughts, to think rationally about how she was going to go about finding out the reason for Jonas’s visit to her father yesterday. And the only problem with the plan she had come up with, that she could see, was if she would be able to hold on to her temper long enough to try and seduce the information out of him!

      She knew Jonas found her attractive, had seen his admiration for her looks in his face. There was no doubting the fact that he was handsome enough himself for her not to find flirting with him too arduous a task. It was the fact that he also annoyed her intensely that could pose a problem!

      Besides, СКАЧАТЬ